When it comes to shaking up the luxury automotive world, no technical sophistication, supple leather in the interior or amount of power can top an appealing design. More striking in person unlike even the most gratifying cinematography may suggest, the coupelike Mercedes Benz CLS-Class has a visual presence, which few other prestigious sedan models can match. And that’s something that's not expected to change for some time to come.

Yet whether those who are in the market seeking a Mercedes Benz CLS-Class or the previous model, both share much of their engi...